More About Mold
Common Mold Misconceptions
Mold Myth #1:
Throw Some Bleach On It
This is one of the biggest myths regarding mold. Believe it or not, in most cases, bleach will actually encourage further mold growth!
Here's why bleach alone will not kill mold:
When you apply bleach to kill mold on a porous surface, (i.e. wood, drywall, grout, carpet, etc.) the chlorine molecules stay on the surface and will only kill a fraction of the mold while the water in bleach (bleach is mostly water) sinks into the material and actually promotes further growth. Perhaps you have seen this happen yourself when you pour bleach on the ceramic tile in your shower, only to have the mold in the grout re-appear within a few days even stronger than before!
Why then do most over the counter "mold cleaners" contain bleach? Because bleach will whiten the stains caused by mold and will kill mold that grows on non-porous surfaces like your kitchen counter, bathtub, etc. But please remember that "killing" mold is not enough! To quote the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed."
Mold Myth #2:
Myth: Dead mold is not a risk
Allergic reactions to mold are caused by the coating on the surface of mold spores. One square inch of infected material (e.g. wallboard or wood) can contain from 1 to 10 million mold spores! When you attempt to kill mold, intentionally or simply when the source of moisture is eliminated, mold releases its spores in the air to find a new place to colonize. Even though the mold is dead, the coating on the spores will still cause allergic reactions such as coughing, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, sore throat, etc.
It is not only necessary to kill the mold, but also remove it in a manner which does not cause aerosolization of the spores (containment, negative air pressure, etc). Of course, some infected materials such as drywall, cardboard, carpet, padding, upholstered furniture must be completely removed and disposed of in a safe manner.